How Sweet It Is!

Okay, this isn't just any ole digital layout, to me. This is my very own. That's right, my own. By "my own", I mean, I built this one from the bottom up. First, I designed my own kit. My first kit called, "Chocoloholic". Yeah, I knew you'd like that name! The kit includes everything in this layout, except the font. You get 4 pp's (Mocha Swirl, Love Chocolate, Striped Chocolate, and Chocolate Drops), 2 bottle caps, 2 buttons, 2 fibers (only one shown in layout) and 3 eyelets in different shades of brown. Also an upper case alpha.
I intend on doing more of this, as time goes on. But, it will take lots of time and practice. But, eventually, it'd be nice to have my own digital scrapping line of products. Whether for sale, or for freebies, who knows. Maybe someday in the near future I'll get enough product to put in my etsy shop.
As a scrapper (digital or traditional) I'd love to hear what you think. Should I add more, less? Is the kit missing anything. I've never done this before, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for looking!

It's All About Friends

I had the most, incredible weekend! Friday night I had a great time with some new friends. You know, the Girl Scout song, "Make new friends, but keep the old." Well, I can't say the friends I hung out with on Friday are completely new. I've known them for a few years, now. But, compared to some other friends that I heard from, this week, they are new.
Remember that best-friend you had in high school or that roommate from college? You swore you all would grow old together. Nothing could keep you apart. You were inseperable. You laughed together and you cried together. Sleepovers, parties, school dances and so much more. You made a packt that you'd be in each others weddings, no matter what. You couldn't imagine what you life would be like without that person, nor did you even want to.
This week I've done a lot of reflecting. It's been all about friends...both the new and the old. It started, the other week, when we had our "Friendship" chat on AMR. Shortly after that, I decided to give my old friend, from college, a call. Billie moved and lives about 2 1/2 hours away. We haven't spoken a couple of years, aside from the occassional email. There were no quarrels or squabbles that kept us apart. Just everyday life. I was very excited to tell her that I'd be traveling through her neck of the woods on the weekend, and if she'd be home. We decided to meet up for dinner and chit chat. It was the girls, myself, she and her hubby. We had a remarkable visit and both agreed that we need to do that more often. It felt really good to see her again and I was much relieved when we left for home, Saturday night. It was a long drive, and a late night, but none of that should matter when it comes to seeing a friend.
In the meantime, the next day, after talking on the phone with Billie, I rec'd an email from another old friend. Kara and I were best-friends in high school. We met in Girl Scouts (surprise there lol). We did everything together. Always at one house or another. Those school dances, all-nighters, etc and so on. She was in my wedding (and so was Billie). Eventually, we just drifted apart. She moved to Mass. and I got married, had kids, and moved on. With Kara still being single (at the time), with no kids, we didn't really have much in common. Again, there weren't any quarrels or fights that kept us apart. Just our daily lives. So, now the time comes and Kara tells me she's going to be in NY this coming weekend. We plan on meeting up this weekend. We decided to meet at a half way point, since, she'll still be a good 3 hrs away. So, I'm going to see Kara in Syracuse this Saturday. Now, I can't even begin to remember the last time I saw her. I've spoke to her on the phone, once in the past year. Emails have been very scarce. What we'll say or talk about, I have no idea. But it will be nice to see, yet, another old friend.
Which makes me wonder. Did you have friends like these? Do you still keep in touch? Wonder what they're up to? Any idea where they are? When was the last time you talked to them? I highly recommend picking up the phone or dropping an email to say hello. You never know what kind of an impact that may have on them!

""A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.""
Author: Pam Brown

""A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a key to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.""
Author: Lois Wyse
""Don't walk in front of me,
I may not follow-
Don't walk behind me,
I may not lead-
Just walk beside me
and be my friend.""
Author: Unknown

""Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."

-Muhammad Ali"


""Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there""
Author: Unknown

(quotes from scrapbook.com)

The week of June 16th re-cap

It started with the EBB Monthly Kit project. This kit was all about baby. Included in the kit was a word album. Now, I'm not crazy about mini albums and word albums. They're gorgeous, but not really for me. I prefer layouts and such. So, after thinking about what to do with this project, I figured it out. I wanted something that would include both girls. I can't leave one out and focus on the other. It's "not fair". lol. So, I decided to use the album as an addition to a layout. A wonderful and fun way to include additional images, without overcrowding. This kit was lots of fun to work with, once I got the mojo flowing.


Yes, I've done some scrapping this week. Good thing, since I won't get much done this weekend.

The other week was my week for EBB's weekly challenge. I've been told that I should do a layout about my Rascal Flatts craze. So, that's the June Week #2 Challenge at EBB. To create a layout about your obessions. It could be about anything, not necessarilly music. Chocolate, coffee, favorite actor, scrapbooking, etc. The possiblilities are endless.
I have to say, this layout was fun to create. I used several different techniques. Distressing inks & paints. I never used distressing paints before, and it was fun!
So, here's my Rascal Flatts Obsession layout! Some call it an obsession, I call it dedication!



The above layout may have been the most fun, but this next one might be one of my favorites, too. I'm very proud of Lizzy, this year. She's so smart and does so well in school (even if she does whine and complain about it). Despite what she says, she has lots of friends and is very successful. A good reader, too. She was giving an award from the Mount Markham Teacher's Association, this week. One of three kids in her class. She was totally surprised. Even, I kept it a secret from her. Her award is for her Excellent Academic Performance. These papers were also part of EBB's June Kit. I'm lovin' the stars!!!!

Way to go, Lizzy! Keep up the good work. We love you!

June Sneaky Peaks

Ok, this month was definitely a challenge, for me, with the June EBB Creations Kit. I'm not a big fan of mini-albums, and without revealing the whole surprise, that's all I'm saying. But, I made it work. When there's a will, there is a way! So here are a few peaks. If you want to see more, well, you'll just have to wait until Sunday night. Ebb's having the monthly kit reveal at 9 pm EST. Join us in the forums!